Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Southern Tennis Patrons Foundation

Alexander Wellford SR, Tennessee, 1994

Alexander Wellford SR, Tennessee, inducted 1994Alexander Wellford

  • Competed successfully in six sports during his youth in Memphis, but tennis was his favorite
  • Attended the University of the South where he was team captain
  • Won the Memphis City Singles Championship at the age of 27 and again 15 years later when he was 42
  • Won numerous national senior titles from 1954 through 1984 including the 1958 National Clay Court Senior Doubles Championships with partner Slew Hester and competed at Wimbledon and the French Championships against the top players in tennis including Vic Seixas, Bobby Riggs and Bitsy Grant
  • Founded the Memphis Tennis Association and served as its first president
  • Served as President of the Southern Tennis Association and on the Board of the USTA
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame and the Memphis Tennis Hall of Fame

Zan Guerry, Tennessee, 1994

Zan Guerry, Tennessee, inducted in 1994Zan Guerry

  • Top ranked national junior player from the time of his 1960 championship in the Boy’s 11 year old division
  • Played high school tennis at Baylor School in Chattanooga and later was a 3-time All American at Rice University
  • Following college he played on the professional circuit where he reached the top 20 in the county and played in all the Grand Slam tournaments
  • Five time winner of the Southern Men’s Championships
  • Won 25 national championships in singles and doubles, at least one in each decade since his first title in 1960
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame, Baylor School Athletic Hall of Fame, Rice University Tennis Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame
  • Joined his father, Alex, as the only father and son to be inducted into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame

Roscoe Tanner, Tennessee, 1990

Roscoe Tanner, Tennessee, Inducted in 1990Roscoe Tanner

  • Ranked #1 in the nation in the Boy’s 18-and-under and led the Baylor School team to two straight High School National Championships and was considered the best junior player ever from the South
  • Three time All-American at Stanford, runner up in the NCAA Singles Championships twice and won the NCAA Doubles champion once
  • Turned pro in 1972 and over the course of his 10 year career won 15 ATP championships and was runner up in over 20 other tournaments
  • Grand Slam record stands at 90-32, including the singles championship at the 1977 Australian Open, a finalist at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships where he lost a classic 5-set match to Bjorn Borg and a quarterfinalist or semifinalist at 9 other Grand Slam events
  • Represented the United States on the Davis Cup team 5 times, including the 1981 championship team
  • 1981 WCT Tour Champion whose fastest serve was clocked at 153 MPH
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee, 1990

Tommy Bartlett, Tennessee,inducted in 1990Tommy Bartlett

  • Captained both the basketball and tennis teams at the University of Tennessee where he was undefeated in singles or doubles
  • Tennis coach for the men and women at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga compiling an overall record of 579-92, an 86% winning percentage
  • While coaching college tennis, he held teaching pro positions at several prestigious tennis facilities including the Chattanooga Tennis Club, Cherokee Country Club and Manker Patten Tennis Club
  • Recognized by fellow coaches and players as an outstanding teacher, coach and competitor winning numerous USPTA awards including Coach of the Year (3 times), Pro of the Year (3 times) and Player of the Year (6 times)
  • Held numerous USPTA offices, including Florida President and Regional Vice-President and was a member of the NCAA Selection Committee
  • Outstanding player winning 27 national championships, 35 Southern championships and 60 state championships
  • Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, was a member of the first class inducted in the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted in the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993